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Updated on
August 19, 2008,
H.S.
asks from Saint Paul, MN
on
August 08, 2008

Help with Stinky Tupperware

I got some Tupperware that had never been used, but had sat in a old, musty-smelling basement for a few years. I have tried washing it in hot, soapy water and then setting it outside to dry for an afternoon, but it still smells. Are there any safe methods to get the musty-smell gone? Thank you!

Featured Answers

M.M.
answers from Des Moines
on
August 09, 2008

H.,
Have you tried soaking it with diluted vinegar or lemon juice? I would give that a try. If that doesn't work you could consider using some Young Living Essential Oils. they seem to work real well at getting rid of musty smells, especicially a product called Theives Cleaner, which is completely safe.
M.

wash it with baking soda or vinegar and warm water or better yet set it out in the sun with baking soda and water in it. Should take out the smell. My mother also said often time salt water will do the trick (soaking in).

I bought a new Tupperware pitcher from a garage sale. Got it home, took the lid off, and it smelled like smoke. I decided to give it a shot before I threw it out. I hand washed it in hot soapy water, ran it through the dishwasher, THEN made a paste out of baking soda and water, covered the entire pitcher, let it sit then repeated. It worked!

More Answers

As a former Tupperware manager (whose mom had a whole room full of unused Tupperware when she moved to assisted living), my suggestions are simple.

The baking soda is one of the best ways to rid the Tupperware of the smell.

The other method is to soak newspapers in water. Wring them until damp dry. Put them in the Tupperware and seal it up. After 24 hours, it should be good to go.

Tomato juice also absorbs the smells, but then, don't forget to wash it right away with COLD water.

Contacting Tupperware is great too. They will contact you back. And just for all of you - Tupperware is not made from any toxic products. Even the microwave pieces were not put on the market until they could find a solution to making the product safe for foods at all temperatures. But - Freezer pieces are not made for the microwave. And older (20+ years) are not even made for the dishwasher. They make a very good product and stand behind it 100%.

I bought a new Tupperware pitcher from a garage sale. Got it home, took the lid off, and it smelled like smoke. I decided to give it a shot before I threw it out. I hand washed it in hot soapy water, ran it through the dishwasher, THEN made a paste out of baking soda and water, covered the entire pitcher, let it sit then repeated. It worked!

This is a little off topic, but with all the worry about plastics, BPA, and other nasty stuff, is Tupperware safe? Since there are Tupperware reps on here, I'd love to finally know what type of plastic Tupperware is! I too have a lot of old and new stuff, but have been debating making the switch to all glass and stainless steal containers!
Thanks!!

The vinegar suggestion is good and usually works. I have also used diluted bleach to get stains out of sippy cups and then soaked them in hot water to get the bleach out of the plastic. We did that at a day care I worked at.

I would look up TUpperware online and see if they will replace them or have ideas for you. I think they have a lifetime warranty on some things and will replace them for cracks or damage, not sure about smells

Toss it H.. It's not just a smell - plastic is a permeable substance that takes on mold and fungus, among other things. When replacing it, consider glass which won't leach plastics into your food and won't take on microbes or color.

try soaking in in vinegar. This should take out the smell (also works well if you ever have food that molds in tupperware, you'll want to use vinegar to make sure the mold is removed before you use it for other food).

The smell of vinegar is easily removed by washing with soap and water or running it through the dishwasher.

wash it with baking soda or vinegar and warm water or better yet set it out in the sun with baking soda and water in it. Should take out the smell. My mother also said often time salt water will do the trick (soaking in).

You might want to get rid of it. That stinky smell is probably caused by bacteria or mold that has seeped/worked its way into the plastic. If good old fashioned bleach and very hot H20 doesn't get rid of it, I'd say just buy new to be on the safe side.

Like everyone said the soaking the container in Vinegar and warm water is great for killing the mold spores and getting the product back to normal. Off the subject, we had mold on our bedroom NW corner wall that kept coming back after using bleach. I had to try the vinegar and warm H2O when I heard about it at a meeting, and it hasn't come back yet and it's been at least 2-3 years ago. (When bleach was used it came back w/in months.)

The reason Newspapers used to work on getting smells out is because the ink was made from coal (which absorbed the odors). If you don't think your newspaper ink is written w/coal, wrap up an actual piece of coal (don't want to stain it) and seal it in the container.

FYI: Our limited lifetime warranty is guaranteed by Tupperware against chipping, cracking, breaking or peeling under normal non-commercial use for the lifetime of the product. You don't need a receipt only the product (so DO NOT throw any pieces away) If we can't replace it w/the same or even something comparable then you will receive a credit on your next order.

I have a website that you can look at for any Tupperware questions or needs! You can also flip through our catalogs periodically to see what's new! If you would like to visit my website go to: http://my2.tupperware.com/sherrymeinecke . I may not be close but nowadays a lot of things are done by internet or phone!

Hi H.
I was told to wad up newspaper and put in the container and seal it for a couple of days to absorb the smells. I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure if it will work. I am a Tupperware Consultant so let me know if that works or not. thanks A. ###-###-#### you can check my website for specials if you would like to. www.my.tupperware.com/alisafelton

H.- I think I would toss it. I too found Tupperware, still in the original packaging in the box in my grandmas house after she died. It had that packed away old house smell to it. I ran it through the dishwasher 4 times, then soaked it over night in bleach. My husband says he no longer smelled it, but I could. I decided it was not worth placing that in my or my kids bodies. I could not even move myself to give it to good will. There are so many toxins we are just learning about plastics, I just fiqured it is not worth it.

Tupperware is 100% guaranteed. Contact a Tupperware dealer and she will help you with the issues...and if it cannot be solved easily, will replace the items for you free of charge. Check the website for a dealer near you.

H.,
Have you tried soaking it with diluted vinegar or lemon juice? I would give that a try. If that doesn't work you could consider using some Young Living Essential Oils. they seem to work real well at getting rid of musty smells, especicially a product called Theives Cleaner, which is completely safe.
M.

this sounds weird...but it really works....crumple up some newspaper and put it inside the tupperware..put the lid on and..leave it in there for a day or so....the paper absorbs the smell...no kidding it does.....

i think i've also put baking soda in with the newspaper sometimes too....

Years ago a Tupperware lady told me that spraying tupperware with 409 (let it sit) got rid of odors. If she was right then, it probably still works. Since it is mold, you could also try vinegar. Good luck

Try rubbing lemon extract or concentrate on it and then microwaving for just a few seconds, say about 45 seconds (not so hot it misshapes the tupperware) and then wash in warm water with a little vinegar. Someone said this helps.